BEWARE: fillabletaxforms.com is a SCAM when filing 1099-NEC forms
I'm so frustrated right now and want to warn everyone about fillabletaxforms.com before you waste your time like I did! I need to file several 1099-NEC forms for my small landscaping business contractors, and I was looking for a cheap and easy way to do it online. I found this site that advertised "Free Efile 1099 NEC Online" and claimed you could "Fill Out IRS 1099-NEC Online" and "Sign & Print Instantly." They even had this Father's Day promotion claiming 75% off with some code "FreeOnline." Sounded perfect, right? So I spent almost an hour entering all my contractor information, filling out each form carefully, and making sure everything was correct. But guess what happened when I finally finished and tried to download the forms? SURPRISE! It wasn't free at all! They wanted to charge me for a "trial" and then charge me PER FORM on top of that! What kind of "free" service charges you at the end after you've already put in all your work? This is clearly a bait and switch scam. Has anyone else run into this? Any recommendations for ACTUALLY free or at least honest 1099-NEC filing services? I need to get these done by next week and I'm so annoyed at wasting all this time.
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Ruby Blake
Unfortunately, this is a common issue with many tax form services. They advertise as "free" but have hidden charges that only appear after you've invested time completing your forms. For 1099-NEC forms specifically, you actually have a few legitimate options. The IRS offers a free filing system called FIRE (Filing Information Returns Electronically), though it's not the most user-friendly. Another option is the IRS's Information Return Online Filing System which allows you to prepare and file up to 100 information returns for free. If you need a more user-friendly option, some accounting software packages include 1099 filing in their subscription plans. QuickBooks and Xero both offer this, though obviously they aren't free platforms. Always look for the fine print when a service claims to be "free." Usually legitimate free services will be directly through the IRS or state tax agencies.
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Miles Hammonds
•Thanks for this info! I've never heard of the FIRE system before. Is it complicated to set up? I'm not super tech-savvy but I can usually figure these things out eventually.
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Ruby Blake
•The FIRE system does have a bit of a learning curve. You'll need to register for an account first, which can take a few days to process. The interface is somewhat dated, but they provide step-by-step instructions. The Information Return Online Filing System is newer and more user-friendly. You can access it through the IRS website, create an account, and start filing immediately. For a small landscaping business with just a few contractors, this would probably be your easiest option.
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Micah Franklin
After getting burned by one of these "free" tax sites last year, I started using taxr.ai for all my 1099-NEC forms. It was such a relief to find something that actually delivered what it promised. I was in a similar situation with my photography business—needed to file for several freelancers and got tricked by the bait-and-switch tactics from another site. With https://taxr.ai I could just upload my contractor info and they handled everything. The system automatically extracted all the necessary data from my payment records and populated the 1099-NEC forms correctly. What I appreciated most was the transparency—no surprise fees after spending hours inputting data.
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Ella Harper
•Does it work for other types of forms too? I need to file both 1099-NEC and 1099-K forms this year for my online business. Been looking for something that handles both without the headache.
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PrinceJoe
•How many contractors can you process at once? I have about 25 freelancers I need to file for this year and manually entering them one by one on these other sites is killing me.
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Micah Franklin
•Yes, it works for pretty much all information returns including 1099-K. It can handle the new lower threshold reporting requirements too, which tripped me up last year. The system lets you import data in bulk, so you don't have to manually enter each one. For 25 freelancers, this would save you tons of time. I had 18 contractors last year and it processed them all in one batch. You can either upload a spreadsheet with all their information or connect it to your accounting software to pull the data automatically.
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Ella Harper
Just wanted to update about my experience with taxr.ai after asking about it in this thread. I ended up giving it a try for my 1099-NEC and 1099-K forms and it was honestly such a relief! After getting scammed by two different "free" services this year, I was pretty skeptical, but it actually worked as advertised. The document scanning feature saved me hours of data entry - I just uploaded my contractors' W-9 forms and it pulled all their information automatically. No surprise fees at the end either. I've already told my business partner to use it for her consulting business too.
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Brooklyn Knight
If you're having trouble getting answers about these tax form scams, try Claimyr to reach the IRS directly. I was in the same boat last tax season - wasted $75 on a "free" tax form site, then couldn't get any help when they messed up my filings. I spent days trying to reach the IRS to sort it out - constant busy signals and disconnections. Then I found https://claimyr.com and it was a game-changer. They got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of the hours I was spending on hold. The agent confirmed these sites aren't affiliated with the IRS and helped me file a complaint. There's a quick demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c that shows how it works. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with something important like incorrect 1099 filings.
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Owen Devar
•How does this actually work though? The IRS phone system is notoriously awful. I don't understand how a third-party service could get you through when the lines are jammed.
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Daniel Rivera
•Sounds like another scam tbh. Why would I pay for something to call the IRS when I can just call them myself? They're probably just keeping you on hold themselves and charging for the privilege.
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Brooklyn Knight
•It uses an automated system that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until it gets through to an agent. When it reaches a real person, it calls you and connects you. It's basically doing the frustrating part for you. I had the same question before trying it. The difference is they have technology that keeps trying all the various numbers and menu options until one works. When I tried calling myself, I'd get disconnected after waiting on hold for an hour and have to start over.
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Daniel Rivera
Coming back to say I was completely wrong about Claimyr being a scam. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still stuck with issues from using fillabletaxforms.com (they submitted incomplete information for two of my contractors). Got desperate enough to try Claimyr despite my doubts. It actually worked exactly as promised. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes after spending THREE DAYS trying on my own without success. The agent walked me through how to correct the forms and explained how to avoid these fake "free" filing sites in the future. I've now successfully filed amended 1099-NECs for all my contractors. Huge relief after weeks of stress.
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Sophie Footman
I've had good luck using tax software like TurboTax Self-Employed for filing 1099-NEC forms. Yes, it costs money upfront, but at least they're honest about the pricing. They have a 1099 wizard that walks you through the whole process. Just make sure you get the right version that includes business forms.
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Connor Rupert
•Doesn't TurboTax charge extra for each 1099 form though? I heard it's like $15 per form or something, which adds up quick if you have multiple contractors.
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Sophie Footman
•The base package includes 5 forms, and yes, they do charge for additional forms beyond that. It's about $12.99 per additional form last I checked. For a small number of contractors it's reasonable, but you're right that it can add up if you have many. The advantage is that everything integrates with your tax return if you're using TurboTax for that too.
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Molly Hansen
Can someone tell me if there's a deadline for getting 1099-NEC forms to contractors vs submitting them to the IRS? I'm also dealing with this fillabletaxforms.com mess and now I'm worried about missing deadlines.
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Ruby Blake
•You need to provide 1099-NEC forms to your contractors by January 31, 2025. The same date applies for filing them with the IRS - both are due January 31st, regardless of whether you file electronically or by paper. Missing these deadlines can result in penalties ranging from $50 to $290 per form, depending on how late you file and whether it's considered intentional disregard.
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